Court to Nelson Farms: Stop Polluting

November 17, 2013

By

LAURA CARPENTER, Express Staff Writer

NEWPORT â€“ An Orleans County judge has ordered Nelson Farms to stop polluting nearby waterways with runoff. Judge Howard VanBenthuysen issued a preliminary injunction November 6 against Nelson Farms. The State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Agency of Natural Resources took Nelson Farms to court over the problem. According to the Attorney Generalâ€™s (AG) office, two of the Nelsonsâ€™ farms, Clydeside Farm in Derby Center and Crystal Brook Farm in Derby Line are discharging waste into the Clyde River and Crystal Brook. Clydeside has 450 dairy cows and 200 heifers and Crystal Brook Farm houses approximately 575 dairy cows.
â€śThe Stateâ€™s agricultural water quality laws and programs are designed to assist farmers to help keep our waterways clean,â€ť said Attorney General William Sorrell, adding that when voluntary compliance efforts fail the state will step in and take enforcement action.